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Rays take to community to lend helping hand

Rays take to community to lend helping hand

Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Matt Moore (55) throws to first in a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Sunday, July 28, 2013, in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

By Sam Strong
/
MLB.com |

ST. PETERSBURG -- Rays pitcher Matt Moore may be headed to the disabled list with a sore left elbow, but that did not keep him from having fun Friday with children at the two St. Petersburg recreation centers he sponsors as part of the Rays Dugout Club.

"I shot the basketball with my right hand and kicked a double in kickball," Moore said. "We're there to spread a message about eating well, staying positive and staying active. I know they had a good time interacting with me and I had a great time playing some of those schoolyard games."

Moore made his final visit of the summer to "The Moore Corps" prior to the series opener against the Blue Jays while pitcher David Price visited "Price's Pals" and outfielder Desmond Jennings checked in with "Jennings' Juniors."

Moore took over B.J. Upton's former clubs and said he is starting to feel like a familiar face there.

"It was a little more 'Matt' and a little less of 'Who's that?'" Moore said. "We're going to try to get out there more often. Next year, we'll try to restructure our visits so I'm not as much of a stranger around there."

Price, meanwhile, played dodgeball at his clubs and tweeted, "If you doubt my dodgeball skills just ask the kids at Campbell Park!! 95 from the left side ain't no joke!!"

If you doubt my dodgeball skills just ask the kids at Campbell Park!! 95 from the left side ain't no joke!!

Upon arriving at Tropicana Field, he admitted the radar reading was not quite that high.

"It was probably about 35 [mph], but I wasn't really throwing as hard as I could," he said. "I didn't want to pull anything. I just wanted to have fun. I got a couple kids out more by catching balls. I did dot a girl on her ankle. I hit my spots. I was pleased."

Sam Strong is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.